Floral display rack



July 14, 1942. c. P. ROGERS 2,289,806

FLORAL DISPLAY RACK Filed NOV. 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7L W5 E45 Inventor A Home July 14, 1942. c. P. ROGERS FLORAL DISPLAY RACK Filed Nov. 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 z 1 4 f m w n/ 1 fl W wk 5% 7 W W & P

Patented July 14, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF I CE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to display racks particularly designed for supporting and displaying flowers, and particularly sprays and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a rack of the character and for the purpose mentioned,

which may be used to advantage by undertakers, funeral directors and fiorists.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rack of this character in the form of a knockdown, adjustable structure; the object, intent lo and purpose being to provide a rack which will require relatively small storage space when not in use, and which, when in use, will permit an effective display of flower sprays and the like to the end that the individual beauty of each floral piece will be displayed to advantage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rack of the structure and for the purpose stated which will permit the display thereon of one, or relatively few pieces of floral displays:

without revealing to view so much of the rack as would tend to detract from the efieotive display of the floral pieces thereon, whether such pieces be great or small in number.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of a floral display rack embodying the features of the present invention and set up for use.

Figure 2 is a detail in front elevation of one of the spray clamping members.

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional View taken substantially on the line 4- of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on a line 55 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on a line 5-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detail of the washer to which one end of the clamping member is attached.

Figure 8 is a front elevational view of a modifled form of spray hanger, and

Figure 9 is a side elevational view thereof.

Referring more in detail to the drawings and with particular reference to Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, it will be seen that in the preferred embodiment thereof the display rack comprises a center post composed of a plurality of telescoping sections 5, 6 and I, respectively.

The section 5 has suitably secured to the lower end thereof a foldable supporting base 4. The base 4 may be of any suitable construction and is not of the essence of this invention.

The post or standard section 6 is secured at the desired position of adjustment relative to the post section 5 through th medium of a fitting indicated generally by the reference numeral 8; while the section I is secured at the desired position of adjustment relative to the section 5 through the medium of a similar fitting indicated generally by the reference 9.

Since the fittings 8 and 9 are substantially identical in construction; a detailed description of one will teach the other.

Thus referring more particularly to Figures 5 and 6, it will be appreciated that each of the fittings 8, 9 embodies a tubular body II] that has formed integrally with one end thereof a split clamp II that includes apertured ears I2 with which are associated bolt and nut means I3 through the medium of which the clampequipped end II ofthe body I2 may be oontracted in order to secure the postsections, with which the fitting is associated, at the desired relative positionof adjustment.

The tubular body I0 has projecting laterally therefrom lugs I4 and I5, respectively, that are provided on one face thereof with ratchet teeth to complement ratchet teeth formed on one face of disks I6, I'I, respectively, formed integral with arm-accommodating sockets I8 and I9, respectively.

The disks I6 and I! are secured at the desired position of rotative adjustment relative to their complemental ears I4, I5 through the medium of bolt and nut means 20 and 2|, respectively, as clearly shown in Fi ure 5.

Associated with the fitting Bare arms 22 which at one end are engaged, respectively, in the sockets I8, I9 forming part of fitting 8, While similar arms 23, in the form of rods, are similarly associated with the fitting 9.

For bracing the arms 22, when in any position of adjustment and at an angle to the perpendicular, there is provided a brace assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 24.

The brace assembly 24 embodies a collar 25 sleeved on the post section 5 and secured thereon at the desired position of adjustment through the medium of a set screw 26. Collars 21 are riveted on the arms 22 and 23. Links 29 are pivoted at one end thereof to ears provided on diametrically opposite sides of the collar 25, and at the other end thereof are pivoted to ears provided on the collars 21 as shown. Thus it will be seen that with the set screw 26 loose, arms 22 may be swung vertically to the desired position of angular adjustment relative to the perpendicular, after which the set screws 26 are threaded home into engagement with the standard or post section 5 to secure the arms in the position of adjustment to which they have been moved. At the same time the disks I5 and I1 are held against the lugs 14 and I5 by the setscrews 20 and 2| in the desired angular position.

For similarly securing the arms 23 at the desired position of angular adjustment relative to the perpendicular, there is associated with the arms 23 and the post or standard section 6 a brace assembly, indicated by the reference numeral 30 and which, as shown, is identical with the brace assembly 24, and hence, it is believed, need not be herein specifically described.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided for use on the arms 22 and 23 a floral piece suspension unit, indicated generally by the reference numeral 3l. Inthe present instance seven of such units 3! are illustrated, there being one pair of units for each of the arms 22 and 23 and one unit mounted on each post section 5, 6 and l. The suspension unit or hanger 3| comprises a split clamp 32 secured to the arm 22 or 23 by a bolt 33 and wing nut 34, the bolt also having a Washer 35 thereon. A substantially triangular wire clamping member 36 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the outer face of the washer adjacent one end of the wire, the ends of the wire being free and projecting angularly forwardly of the clamp 32 as shown at 31 and 38 and terminating in a stationary jaw 39 and a movable jaw 40, the ends of the jaws extending toward each other in overlapping relation.

The portion of the wire immediately adjacent the jaws project in opposite directions from the clamp as shown at 4! and 42 to form the top of the triangle of the wire clamping member and a collar 43 slidably connects said portions to prevent spreading movement of the portion 42 relative to the portion 4 I. The wire at the bottom of the clamping member 35 is coiled into a spring 44 to yieldably close the jaws.

In Figures 8 and 9 I have illustrated a modified form of spray hanger and which comprises a bar 45 secured to a split clamp 46 attached to one of the arms 22 or 23 by a bolt 47 and wing nut 48.

A ratchet disk 49 is formed in one side of the clamp 403 which is engaged by a similar disk 50 formed on one side of the bar 45, the disks being.

centrally apertured for receiving the bolt 41. The bar 45 has pivoted thereto as at l5l pointed prongs 5252, the prongs being spaced longitudinally on the bar for penetrating into the sprays which may be impaled thereon.

When desired, the post section 6 and associated parts may be separated from the post section 5, and post section 5, together with its associated parts, used as the complete display rack.

It will also be appreciated that when not in use, post section 6 may be separated from post section 5; post section i telescoped into post section 6, with. the arms 23 swung to a position sub-- stantially paralleling the post section 6 thus providing a relatively small compact rack for storage purposes. In such condition, and for storage purposes, the base or platform 4 may be folded, and the arms 22 folded down against the post section 5. Thus with the entire rack so knocked down and folded, relatively small storage space will be required therefor.

It is thought that the simplicity of the structure of the rack, together with its many advantages, is such as not to require further detailed description,

It is to be understood, however, that while I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is in no wise intended to restrict the invention to the precise details of construction, combination, and arrangement of elements, other than as may be required by the prior art and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a rack of the character described, a post embodying a plurality of telescoping tubes and fittings securing the tubes at the desired position of longitudinal adjustment relative to one another; each of said fittings embodying a plurality of sockets, and supporting arms having ends fitted in said sockets and adapted for adjustably supporting article-suspension units thereon.

2. In a rack of the character described, a main post embodying a plurality of telescoping tubular sections, fittings associated with said sections and having integral clamps adapted to be contracted about the telescoping sections to secure the sections of said post at the desired position of longitudinal adjustment, independently, and relative to one another; each of said fittings including a plurality of sockets, and supporting arms having ends fitted in said sockets and adapted for adjustably supporting article-suspension units thereon.

3. In a rack of the character described, a main post embodying a plurality of telescoping tubular sections, fittings embracing said sections and having parts contractible about the sections for securing the sections at the desired position of adjustment longitudinally relative to one another; each of said fittings having a plurality of sockets pivotally associated therewith together with means for securing said sockets at the desired angle of adjustment, and supporting arms having ends fitted in said sockets.

4. In a rack of the character described, a main post embodying a plurality of telescoping tubular sections, fittings embracing said sections and having parts contractible about the sections for securing the sections at the desired position of adjustment longitudinally relative to one another; each of said fittings having a plurality of sockets pivotally associated therewith together with means for securing said sockets at the desired angle of adjustment, supporting arms having ends fitted in said sockets, and brace means for the arms, said brace means embodying a collar slidably adjustable on a post section, other collars secured to said arms, and links pivotally connecting the first-named collar on one post section with the collars on arms associated with the same fitting.

5. In a rack of the character described, a main supporting post, a supporting arm pivotally associated at one end thereof with said post, means pivotally connecting said arm at said end with said post and including means for securing said arm at the desired position of pivotal adjustment, a clamp embracing said arm, a body member pivoted to said clamp, interengaging means on said clamp and said body member for securing the body member at the desired position of pivotal adjustment relative to the clamp, and suspension means mounted on said body member.

6. In a rack of the character described, a main supporting post, a supporting arm pivotally associated at one end thereof with said post, means pivotally connecting said arm at said end with said post and including means for securing said arm at the desired position of pivotal adjustment, 2, split clamp embracing said arm, a bolt securing the clamp in adjusted position, a washer on the bolt, and a wire clamping member secured to the washer and including a pair of springactuated jaws formed at the ends of the wire.

CARLETON PERRY ROGERS. 

